The Granard Booktown Festival 2026 will take place from Thursday, 16 to Sunday, 19 April. This fourth annual event will transform the town of Granard, County Longford, into a vibrant hub for book lovers, featuring over 20 talks and more than 35 authors, poets, and speakers.
Key Events & Features
- Inaugural Conor Gearty Memorial Lecture: Named in honour of the late Professor Conor Gearty, this opening lecture will be delivered by Professor Fergus D’Arcy on Friday, 17 April, focusing on Chartist leader James Bronterre O’Brien.
- Writing Workshop Series: Specialised workshops held at Cnoc Mhuire on Saturday, 18 April, featuring:
- Claire Keegan: “How Fiction Works”.
- Aoife Barry: “Finding Writing Inspiration in the Everyday”.
- Stephen Sexton: “Turn! Turn! Turn! Poetry Workshop”.
- Featured Speakers: Other notable guests include Miriam O’Callaghan, Gavan Reilly, Eimear Ní Bhraonáin, Dean Van Nguyen, and Leon Diop.
- Film Screening: A special screening of That They May Face the Rising Sun, with a discussion featuring Belinda McKeon and director Pat Collins.
Visitor Info
- Venues: Events are primarily hosted at Granard Library, Fay’s Bar, Sacred Heart National School, and Cnoc Mhuire.
- Tickets: Ticket are available via the official Granard Booktown Festival Ticket Tailor page.
- Contact: For general inquiries, you can contact the organisers at granardbooktown@gmail.com or call (043) 668 6164.
- This prioritises inclusivity with wheelchair-accessible venues and Irish Sign Language (ISL) interpretation.
Granard Booktown Festival website
